In with the new

We seem to be galloping towards Christmas. Soon, we’ll leave the tinsel-decked office for the last time this year and we’ll each head off to celebrate the festivities in our own way. For some it will mean spending time – possibly a little too much of it – with family and friends, eating, drinking and making merry. Others will simply be looking forward to a well-earned rest and a mince pie in front of the TV. A lucky few may even be anticipating Christmas on the beach…

This time of year is truly unique. Normality is suspended for a few days as we slip quietly from one year to the next. Even those who work over the Christmas period will experience a different rhythm with very little traffic on the roads and a skeleton staff in the office.

When 3rd January comes around, we’ll find ourselves back at work, hopefully well rested and ready for the challenges that 2017 will bring – a new year with the opportunity for a fresh start.

This is a great time to discuss some broad goals with your team:

What are you/we going to deliver this year?

What worked well last year?

What did we learn from our experiences last year?

What do we want to achieve in the coming year?

What do we need to do differently to gain our desired outcome?

What do we want to say about ourselves/have others say about us at the end of 2017?

What would we do if we could not fail?

What would be the most outrageous goal we could set ourselves?

For some individuals it will be an exciting conversation. For others it will feel tedious and pointless. These are the people who, for whatever reason, are not committed to the role and need to either recommit or no longer be part of your team. If they are unable to change their approach they will act as brakes to the rest of the team. If you hear any individual say something similar to ‘Well we did not achieve that last year so we are definitely not going to achieve it this!’ – and really mean it – then you need to speak.

A client had just this situation last month and held a conversation with the individual. They pointed out that they deserved better than to be in a role where they felt they could not make an improvement, gave them a week to consider the situation and then accepted their resignation.

If an individual is not committed to the opportunities you offer, they need to find a role that does excite them and gives them that personal connection that is so important in living a fulfilling and satisfying life.

Wishing you all a merry Christmas and a very happy and productive New Year!

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